Second, and beyond the variety of testimonies heard from them, it emerged that the vast majority of the defendant's business is abroad, and even if it was proven that the defendant had certain investments in Israeli companies, no connection was presented between those companies and Ben-Eliezer's public business, and in any event, no economic interest, even a vague one, was proven, or Ben-Eliezer's alleged ability to assist in the promotion of that vague interest, if any, was proven.
Third, it was proven in a number of testimonies that the defendant tried to dissuade Ben-Eliezer from running for the position of President of the State, in view of his poor health. Beyond the testimony of the accused, the following testimonies can also be pointed to: Yehuda Tzadik, which noted that the defendant "He did not agree that Fouad would run for president" In view of his state of health (Prov. p. 203, paras. 23-32) and see also his words"And he would say to him, instead of coming here to Miami, what are you going to babble about at the end of your life, but that's what I heard in my ears" (Prov. p. 205, s. 1); Testimony of the former minister Raanan Cohen, who noted "Roy spoke clearly to me that he was totally opposed to Fouad running for the presidency." (Prov. p. 1608, s. 29); Testimony of Ori Motsafi who noted "He said to him, "What are you going to the president, you have dialysis all the time, you have this, sick" (Prov. p. 246, s. 21); Testimony of Tamir Poliker who noted "I know from Roy that he's running for president, and Roy kept telling him that you're making a mistake, it's not for your health" (Prov. p. 1624, s. 22).
On the basis of the above, I found great reason in the argument of the defendant's counsel, Attorney Shiran Golbari, who noted the following in the summaries:Our eyes see that the defendant not only pleaded with the late Fouad not to run for the presidency in order to maintain his health, but the defendant did so in front of all and sought to voice his opinion on the matter at every opportunity he had. If the defendant had wished to preserve his right to interests in the future, it is reasonable to assume that he would have backed the late Fouad and openly supported him in the race" (paragraph 164 of the defense's summaries).